I couldn't agree with you more about the state being an impediment (and frankly, the agreement the state signed with the Mellon family when they took over the land prohibiting on site development/lodging). I've echoed that sentiment in other threads.

Based on a couple of various & reliable sources (newspaper source as well as a member of 7S mgmt), it is almost certain LM will not open this year. Given that, I'm not sure why some official announcement is not being made by the DCNR, Somerset Trust or 7S. People are probably making plans to rent homes in the LM Village area, especially around Christmas/New Year's (I'm one of them). So why not inform the public LM won't open this year. It doesn't make sense, unless there is still a slim hope of a last minute deal. 7S still has the LM website up.

On the bright side, however, there is reason to believe that there is a real possibility LM will reopen for the '06-'07 season... stay tuned.

Thanks Dave, that's good new for '06-'07, hopefully.

BTW, my thoughts about the state being an impediment are just the tip of the iceberg - I've long felt that the PA gov't has consistently failed to be a forward-thinking body, and not not just regarding LM. There's probably enough material there for a standalone thread with permanent status.

JB, correct me if I'm wrong, chances are you're living in Woodbridge not by choice, but by necessity (lack of oppurtunity in PA). I had to, not wanted to, move after college in '86 to Baltimore because of the lack of oppurtunites in PA (however, Baltimore's great... I miss that city and always will).

Thank you to all of the wonderful politicos in Harrisburg who continue to keep PA in the Dark Ages. You guys & gals really deserve that huge pay raise you voted for yourself.

Too bad there's not an instant graemlin with a middle finger salute...

jb: Not to get off topic but tech/IT hiring is picking up here in Western PA. I don't know what field you work in (Network Admin, Web Dev, .Net Dev.) but I have been seeing a lot of people returning (boomerangs) to the area. Along with the national sites, workpittsburgh.com can give you a feel for what is around. And if your wife works in the medical field, there are endless oportunities here.


I have to laugh when you talk about our "harsh winters". Several people I work with considered last year a harsh winter. For me to even consider a day "winterish", the high temperature can't rise above 35 DegF or so. Using that criteria, we had about 6 weeks of winter weather last year. 6 out of 52 isn't so harsh....of course "harsh winter" does not exist in my vernacular.

And you both are absolutely right about our over-sized, over-priced legislature.

The situation at LM makes our problems at Timberline seem small indeed.

A couple of thoughts..

1) Have property owners thought of banding together and buying the mountain, perhaps with the help of other small investors? Investors would get lifetime season passes and maybe the hope of some actual return on investment later on down the line.

2) Has anyone floated the idea of running LM as a coop similar to MRG?

John, I'd suspect that's where jeff was going with this.

Robert:

I've been keeping a close eye on PGHTECH.ORG, but I haven't looked at workpittsburgh.com - thanks for the heads up - I'll check it out, too.

I guess my wife just doesn't truly understand really cold weather, being a native Virginian. She's convinced that the Yeti resides somewhere in Western PA.

The YETI does reside in western PA, just ask a Derry Ridger! Derry Ridge has the highest number of BIGFOOT and UFO sightings nationwide almost every year! And people say western PA doesn't have anything to offer! I BEG TO DIFFER!

Maybe Bigfoot was hatched from the Kecksburg UFO.....

The Acorn UFO....that's a good one!